Well, a minor disaster in the Possum Kingdom yesterday. JM and I went out to Mirepoix so he could get some photos for his real estate card. When we got back, my computer had decided that it no longer contains a hard drive!
I'm actually quite proud of myself, because I didn't hyperventilate, panic or pass out. I was a bit annoyed, especially since my last back up was over a month ago. Also, I'd spent the last few days working to edit my manuscript for OVER HERE, which I was hoping to have out to the printers by tomorrow. Clearly, that is not going to be happening.
I did try taking it apart myself, but the hard drive is small and kind of scrunched into the case and I worried that I would break something if I forced it. So, I immediately petitioned our friends for the name of a repair shop in the vicinity. Luckily, we found a place in Laroque and zapped over there right after lunch.
It really seems to me that it's a simple mechanical problem with the drive, so the data should be intact, but it's a major annoyance, while remaining a minor disaster. JM gives me time on his computer, so I can stay connected, but I really do feel as if a part of me is missing.
Meanwhile, I'll be starting a second blog on Complete France called "Food For Thought." As you can guess, the subject will be food. That won't stop me from continuing to discuss the caloric side of life right here on PossumWorld!
Things have warmed up enough around here that the beautiful weekend snow is now turning to yucky gray slush. The anti-snow forces are quite happy about it, to be perfectly honest.
Yesterday, we drove to Pamiers for a few errands and were once again struck by the beauty of the countryside, no matter what the weather. The skies were steel gray, the fields were pristine white and the trees were still covered in their white blankets, although that was melting off at a rapid rate. It's always impressive for us to see how different the landscape is from one day to the next, depending on the weather.
There are stunningly beautiful days in Los Angeles, of course. Usually the day after a heavy rain, it's enough to take your breath away. The sky is so clear and you can see the mountains in the far distance. If you're lucky enough to be near the beach, it is even lovelier. But, with the pollution, it never lasts for long. Soon, the air takes on a yellow glow and the metallic smell of pollution from too many cars returns with a vengeance.
Here, the air is always so clean that you are immediately struck by any industrial odor. It seems so incongruous in the beauty of the countryside. We often find ourselves walking Maggie at night and lifting our noses into the air just to smell whatever is being carried on the wind. At this time of year, it's often a mixture of wood smoke and peoples' dinners. Sometimes, when the temperature has dropped and the clouds are low, you can even smell the snow coming. For JM and me, who both spent our childhoods in places that did have winter, we're immediately thrust into a Proustian state of mind, longing for the winters of long ago.
But, it's not all hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire. My reading at the library for this afternoon has been cancelled. The snow melting on the roof is coming in through the ceiling, directly above the light fixtures. Not a prudent thing to have a room full of five-year-olds there. And, that doesn't even take into account the fact that there are buckets everywhere to catch the drips. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.
I just realized how lucky I am that my driving test was last Monday instead of tomorrow! I wonder if, given the weather, they won't just cancel any exams that are scheduled for the day.
The biggest problem wouldn't even have been taking the test, but getting to Limoux! Even if the snow stops, as predicted by the meteo, the Col will still be a pain. I do have snow tires this year, but I still don't really relish the idea of trying it with the presence of black ice being a strong possibility.
Right now, it looks as if we're just having icy rain, so that might make for some snow melt by morning. We'll just have to see.
I did, however, decide to climb up through the trapdoor in our roof and clear the snow off the satellite dish. Luckily, it was placed close enough that I was able to reach it with a long broom. But, I have to say that a glass trap door covered in snow is not a fun thing to open. Plus, you've got all that semi-melted snow that then falls down the back of your neck.
According to the Beanie-Ometer (a ruler stuck through the snow on her roof) we've had just over six inches of snow since yesterday. Nothing for those of you in Chicago or New England, but it looks like a lot to this ex-California girl!
Chalabre is a village divided! Yes, the pro-snow vs. anti-snow villagers are all making their voices heard this weekend. Of course, the anti-snow villagers are doing that from inside the comfort and warmth of their own homes, as they do NOT want to set foot outside into the white stuff!
JM and I are firmly planted in the pro-snow camp. We think the village looks beautiful under its blanket of white. Of course, we also don't have any particular need to go driving in it, and our trips outside have been confined to walking Maggie and picking up the odd thing or two at the Vival or Huit à 8!
Yesterday, there was no mail into or out of the village, because the postal truck could not get over the pass between Limoux and Chalabre. If that continues for more than a day or two, it's possible that we could slide slightly over into the "anti" camp, but I don't see that occurring at this point.
Of course, the picture is a bit different in other parts of the South of France. Record-breaking amounts of snow have fallen to the north of us, causing massive power outages, closures of autoroutes and airports, even a couple of deaths. So, I don't want to make light of the situation. But, it's nowhere near that serious here in the Shire.
I spoke with friends Diane and Evan in L.A. yesterday. It's going to be close to 80 there this week. But, even that didn't change my mind about living in our village. I think one of the reasons I like the changing seasons so much is that you get to look forward to different weather in a seasonal, instead of daily manner. In L.A., you can go from summer to winter and back in a week! Here at least, when I have my sweaters out, I know I don't have to pull out my summer clothes until summer!
Maggie also seems to enjoy the white stuff. Yesterday, she was bouncing around in the snow very playfully. She certainly didn't act like a dog who is almost 10-years-old. She looks quite fetching in her burgandy sweater, with little snowflakes decorating that and her glossy black head when we're out. I'm pretty sure she knows how cute she looks as well.
So, the vote from the Lofficier clan is that we like the snow. The only negative being that it appears to occasionally affect our satellite signal, so television watching becomes a bit dicey. It's a small thing though, and I believe that we will be able to survive.
